I took this shot from my backyard. A local pack outfit was driving mules and horses behind our house (that's our backyard fence in the photo). These days, it seems that the old cowboy days are relics from a long forgotten past, but it's alive and well here in Bishop, California. Snapped this the morning of Father's Day, 2024 (June 16, 2024).

My first time attempting a photo likes this. I didn't quite get it as perfect as I wanted but I think it looks good enough to share.

Is there a decent lightweight pic viewer for Mac? Preferably open source. I have quite a lot of photos, and using finder/preview to show people my images is pretty clunky, and using darktable isn’t really ideal either. I’m just after something that allows for a quick and simple skimming through folders, and a nice clean display of the chosen image.

As winter continues, I think more and more about how nice it was to sit outside, drink coffee, and take pictures of birds that came by.

This is one of my favorite ones.

As a former Aperture fan, who switched to Adobe Lightroom when Apple abandoned Aperture, I was curious to try out Photomator.

It's a similar product to Lightroom. The big differences?

1. It uses Photos (the Apple app) for the library. So, if you import your RAW files, it'll import them into Photos first, and you go from there.
2. No "Dehaze" slider. It's on the roadmap, though, so I suppose we'll see. Dehaze is a great tool in Lightroom, so it's missed in Photomator.
3. Lifetime license available. I happen to be in a place where I was able to pay for the "Lifetime" license for $99.98, so I did. You can subscribe annually for $29.98, as well. Adobe Lightroom requires a monthly subscription (with an annual option as well). Adobe did away with a "permanent" license way back in version 6 (before the "Dehaze" feature).

It does have AI-powered automatic photo adjustments. Supposedly it's been trained on a library of professional photos, so I suppose we'll see.

The interface is pretty granular, and allows for manual correction for just about anything you'll run into. The spot-repair feature works as advertised, as well.

I suppose we'll see if it pans out, and doesn't get abandoned by the developer.

Anyone else giving it a try yet?

I thought I’d use some of the tips from an article I posted earlier in the sub, and used a smaller aperture to bring out the star-rays. That worked pretty well. This was shot with a 15-35mm lens, widest angle, and f/22, the smallest aperture available. It did come out darker, so I had to bring up the shadows in Lightroom. Not too bad for handheld, I thought.

Now, let’s see yours!

I was traveling (for our 30th anniversary) on the East Coast recently, and realized I had the opportunity to take sunrise photos from the ocean, which I could never do at home, in California.

If you'd like some simple ways to make your sunrise photography better, this is a pretty great article. Share and enjoy!

Good news for your Sony shooters - the A9 specs have been announced, and they're impressive. The only disappointment might be the 24.6 megapixel display. No actual photos available for analysis, yet, either. But, check out the article for the full spec sheet. It's pretty impressive, albeit at $6,000 for the body, it better be!

I posted about two other lenses, the RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM, the RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM, and the last is the RF-24-105mm F2.9L IS USM Z.

The RF 24-105mm F2.8 is a new option. I've used the older EF-mount 24-105 f4 L lens, and it was a great walkaround lens. This new one is a bit larger and heavier, since there is no physical zoom (the lens is self-contained with internal zoom, so it won't get longer/shorter when you're zooming), much like the old EF 70-200mm F2.8 L lens. The new F2.8 version allows for consistent f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range.

Here's what the article says:

Still and video professionals who want a single lens that can handle most tasks with low-light capabilities will find what they’re looking for with the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. This is the world’s first 24-105mm focal length lens combined with consistent f/2.8 maximum aperture,1 offering true portrait-length telephoto coverage resulting in sharp images. High-end photographers, photojournalists, and video content creators can utilize this lens’ other features that include:

• Constant overall length when zooming.
• Manual aperture ring for video use.
• Optimized optics for high-level video.
• Image stabilization.

A new Power Zoom Adapter will also be available for the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z lens, an optional accessory for super-smooth zooming during video operation. This detachable device allows for more natural movement when zooming in and out, and easier control for solo camera operators. A standard version of the Power Zoom Adapter will be available, as well as a 20-pin port version to support zoom and focus demands. The firmware updates that will be available in early December for the EOS C70 and EOS R5 C cameras will add support for the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z lens.

For you wildlife photographers, there's a new, more affordable (that's relative, of course) non-L lens coming for the RF mount bodies. Not really my thing, but we'll see once it's fully out and in distribution. It's supposed to run around $2,000 usd.

Looking for an RF ultra-wide lens? Canon announces a new RF mount 10-20mm F/4 L lens.

It's harder than it looks to see the whole of Sky Rock. It's on a relatively flat rock, facing up toward the sky (hence the name), rather than on a vertical wall, as most petroglyphs are, so it's impossible to see from below. It's also large, easily over 20 x 20 feet. It's carved on a very large rock, which is perched against another vertical rock below it, forming a sort of cave/tunnel below it.

Especially challenging is that you cannot climb on the petroglyph rock itself, in order to protect it. The only way is to climb on a large rock above it, which I'm sure younger, more agile folks can manage, but I barely made it. The location is undisclosed, so you sort of have to know someone who's been there in order to find it. I can say it's located on the volcanic tablelands near Bishop, California. Hope you enjoy the ancient art. Cheers.

I didn't even notice this li'l guy until I had walked past it, and heard it rattle at me. It's getting late in the season to see them much, since it's getting pretty chilly overnight. Soon they'll all be hibernating, anyway. I'm just glad I didn't really disturb it too much. They do keep the rodents down...

The basic element of any good photograph is composition. What guides YOUR composition decisions? Let us know what you think...

A really good article on how to amp up your lighting game...

I'm not a Nikon shooter, but if you like the retro look and feel in a mirrorless Nikon body, this might be for you...

Some good tips on buying gear used. It's always nice to save some money, when modern camera gear can be really expensive...

We all know this is true - if you have a DSLR or mirrorless (or even a point-and-shoot) that you know takes better photos than your phone, but rarely take photos with it, then you can use some of these tips to make it easier.

Use that camera for its intended purpose, and take more photos! I enjoyed this brief article on tips to make using that nice camera a little bit more likely...

Enjoy, and use your camera! :)

I want to stress that I am NOT a professional photographer. It's just a hobby for me, which I've enjoyed for decades. I did once sell a photo I took of the Fall colors on Sonora Pass (Sierra Nevada mountains of California), which was used as a book cover in the UK for some Apple MacOS book, and I was paid 50.00 £. That was fun, but I don't seek out sales of my photos. I do make prints for friends and family as Christmas gifts, that sort of thing, but that's it.

What about you? Have you sold a photo you've taken? What would you recommend to others who might be interested in selling a photo they've taken?

Do you shoot Canon glass? Looks like Canon Rumors is predicting that an current RF lens is targeted for an upgrade soon. Which would it be?

My personal choice would be a new RF 24-105mm f/4 replacement. It's a great everyday/walkaround lens, but I didn't buy it for my R5, as I was saving up for a better landscape lens (which I have in my RF 15-35mm F/2.8L). But I do miss the zoom range when walking around to get more precise framing with up to 105mm zoom. I had the EF version, and it's still with my 6D body. I really liked it for street photography/walking around.

What do you think? If you're a Canon shooter, which RF glass would you like to see updated?

I've been a moderator over at that other place for several years, so I know that the best discussion forums/communities happen when topics are carefully curated, and civility is practiced and encouraged.

I'll be selecting articles and topics for discussion, but what sort of subjects are you looking for in /c/Photography?

Photos, of course. I think everyone enjoys a good photo, whether it's the composition, subject, colors, or style. So please, post photos you enjoy.

Articles? I love reading articles online that talk about the art of photography itself, or new gear, or how photographers can get a certain effect. What sorts of articles are you looking for?

Topics of discussion? What's been on your mind recently when it comes to photography?

I hope you'll find it an enganging and worthwhile place to spend a little of your time.

Share and enjoy!

As the sun set on a cloudy evening here in Owens Valley, the light made for a nice variation in colors and the mood.

Early on my evening walk…

Channeling my inner Ansel Adams - I just liked the “God rays” in black and white for this frame.

Color version with the “God rays” lighting up parts of Round Valley.

Back at the house, watching the sun get lower, and firing up the clouds.

Last shot from the driveway, just as the last light started to fade…

I just liked the "V" shape the sun made as it set behind Mt. Tom and the Wheeler Crest, to the west of my house in Bishop, California...

So, I’ve owned a LOT of camera bags over the years. Lowepro, Tenba, Peak Designs, Canon, and many more brands I can’t recall.

My latest had been a Peak Designs backpack that I liked, but definitely needed more space to carry miscellaneous items in addition to my standard photography gear.

I got the 31-liter sized Prvke backpack from Wandrd. I really like the roll top design that provides exactly what I was missing from my other bags - enough extra space to stuff a jacket, or snacks, or other things I need to stow while traveling. The only other bag I saw with this feature is a Thule "Covert" bag, which I may try if this Wandrd bag doesn’t work out.

I do like the burnt orange color. The photo cube holds my R5 body, 15-35mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L, 180mm macro, 50mm prime, flash, chargers, and filters. My MacBook Pro and iPad fit easily in the special pockets made for them, and there is plenty of space for my chargers, cables, pens, etc. I packed my travel tripod in the side pocket.

Wandrd says they have a lifetime warranty, so I guess we’ll see if I end up needing it. Hopefully it’ll hold up well under daily use. I’m planning to use it as my everyday carry bag for work. It is pretty comfortable to wear so far, so I think durability is my biggest concern right now. Everything else seems good so far - capacity, packability, space, and flexibility.

So, what’s your favorite bag?